Golden Boy Promotions is launching a new venture called "Next Gen" and it debuts on Thursday, April 21, at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif., as super lightweight prospects Joel Diaz Jr. and Mercito Gesta battle in the main event. The card can be seen worldwide on DAZN.
“We are so excited to return to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino for this event,” Oscar De La Hoya, chairman and CEO of Golden Boy, said in a press release. “It has been Golden Boy’s home in the Coachella Valley, and we are excited to bring a DAZN fight night that they will enjoy for the first time in 2022.”
Diaz (26-2, 22 KOs) makes his 2022 debut. The 30-year-old has only fought five times in the last five years, having competed once in each of those calendar years. In his sole outing in 2021, Diaz knocked out Francisco Gabriel Pina in the second round.
Mesta (32-3-3, 17 KOs) returns to action for the first time since November 2019, when he went to a technical draw with Carlos Morales. Before then, Mesta had won four of his previous six fights.
Also on the card is Jousce Gonzalez (11-0-1, 10 KOs) meeting Jairo Lopez (27-14, 17 KOs) and Jorge Chavez (1-0, 1 KOs) taking on Manuel Flores (11-0, 8 KOs).
“We are passionate about building fighters at DAZN, and we are incredibly excited about this event,” Ed Breeze, EVP Rights at DAZN, said. “This show will feature the brightest talents in boxing and so tune in to catch a first glimpse of the stars of tomorrow, live and worldwide on DAZN.”